Almost all car makers have assured diesel buyers that their cars will not face any issues.
OWNERS of diesel vehicles have been getting the short end of the stick for the past few months. Price per litre has increased to never before been seen levels and if that is not concerning enough, the introduction of B15 biodiesel has got some owners concerned.
The blend rate in Peninsular Malaysia has increased from B10 to B15 beginning June 1, and this new biodiesel may not be suitable for all diesel powered cars, particularly older models.
READ MORE: How technology is changing modern car buyer expectations
The new blend rate now comprises of 15% palm methyl ester (PME) and 85% petroleum diesel. Previously it was at 10% PME . There is no change in price though.
The government has assured diesel users that that there will not be any issues with their cars due to this switch.
But that may not be entirely accurate. While the government has given plenty of time for vehicles to be compatible with B20 blend rates ever since it announced the move in 2020, but older cars might face a problem.
Almost all car makers have assured diesel buyers that their cars will not face any issues. In fact, most new diesel engines in Malaysia can handle up to B20 without impacting the warranty of the car. There are some exceptions though.
Bermaz Auto, the official assembler and distributor of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia, has advised against using B20 biodiesel in models running on the Skyactiv-D engines, such as the CX-5 and CX-8.
The company has said that both models can run on B7 diesel as stated in the owner’s manual, while using any other blends will affect the performance of the engine as well as the vehicle warranty.
So if you own a diesel vehicle, particularly older models, you may want to check with the official service centre of your mechanic on what to do now that B15 has been introduced.
In fact, this is not the end of it as there are plans to introduce B20 and B30 with B50 being mooted for future introduction as well.
How will this affect diesel vehicles particularly second hand value is anyone’s guess at the moment but there is bound to be an effect.
Should you put off that purchase of your dream pick-up truck though? Not at all as the powers in charge are actively engaging car makers and planning for a future that is both sustainable and inclusive at the same time.
